La Petite Ecole : Enseignement Franco Américain de 3 à 12 ans
Hyde Park et Winnetka
Our Mission
To offer a European Bilingual program
To offer a European Bilingual program
To offer a European Bilingual program
Inspired by the programs of the French Ministry of Education, our bilingual curriculum offers rigor and enrichment.
From pre-K to 9th grade
To offer a European Bilingual program
To offer a European Bilingual program
We welcome students in cycles that each cover three school years and never assign more than 10 students per teacher.
At a reasonable cost
To offer a European Bilingual program
At a reasonable cost
We serve all francophone or francophile populations and keep our tuition fees simple and reasonable. We never charge a supply fee or do any fundraising.
Winnetka Campus (from Sept 2020 )
Welcoming 3 yr olds to 6th graders.
We've opened three classes for Cycles 1, 2 and 3.
Visit us, by appointment, at 620 Lincoln Avenue.
Hyde Park Campus
Facilities for all ages
Less than 15 minutes from the Gold Coast, off Lake Shore Drive, our school is by the 53rd exit.
That makes us neighbors with the University of Chicago and the Museum of Science and Industry.
The park outside the school includes a playground, and basketball and tennis courts.
Our programs
In cycle 1 (the three kindergarten grades) we maintain a full French immersion environment. Then, bilingual instruction is introduced (adapted to the needs of each child).
Methods et structure
Our students are organized by cycle (of three years each) and receive differentiated instruction. This is only possible because we never assign more than 10 students per teacher.
Our Team
Coline Buevoz Balius, Remote learning
Coline Buevoz Balius, Remote learning
Coline Buevoz Balius, Remote learning
Madame Balius is a Professeur des Écoles with 12 years of experience, including 7 years at a French School in San Diego, where she gained experience ranging from Petite Section all the way to 4ème (8th grade).
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a Master’s in teaching French as a Foreign Language. In 2019, she taught online courses for children and young adults.
Adeline Colas, Cycle 1/2, Hyde Park
Coline Buevoz Balius, Remote learning
Coline Buevoz Balius, Remote learning
Madame Colas is a Professeur des Écoles with 4 years experience, including two years in Utah. She brings extensive experience teaching French to non-native speakers.
She holds a Bachelors degree in the sciences with a concentration on teaching sciences and a Master’s degree in Education.
Elizabeth Faure, Cycle 2, Winnetka
Coline Buevoz Balius, Remote learning
Marie Noëlle Leroy, Cycle 2/3, Winnetka
Madame Faure is a veteran of the Éducation Nationale with 18 years of experience, almost all in cycle 2 but including two years in Peoria Illinois with Kindergartners learning to read.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics, is a licensed Professeur des Écoles. She also holds a certification as a school administrator and another as a foreign language instructor.
Marie Noëlle Leroy, Cycle 2/3, Winnetka
Marie Noëlle Leroy, Cycle 2/3, Winnetka
Marie Noëlle Leroy, Cycle 2/3, Winnetka
Madame Leroy is a Professeur des Écoles Secondaires, with focus on Biology, with 22 years of experience in cycles 3 and 4. From 2014 to 2018, she was Head of School at the École St. Nicolas - Collège St. Joseph in Desvres, France.
She holds a Master’s degree in Biology and a certification as a school administrator and leader.
Blandine Pfeiffer, Cycle 1, Winnetka
Marie Noëlle Leroy, Cycle 2/3, Winnetka
Blandine Pfeiffer, Cycle 1, Winnetka
Madame Pfeiffer comes to us from Singapore where she began as an assistant and was quickly identified for her abilities with small children. She received training and became a successful Professeur des Écoles with a total of 11 years of experience. She holds a Master’s degree.